Mindful Consumption

Emily describes gratitude as one of the fastest, simplest ways out of stress and fear. You thank yourself for having food, imagine its journey, and acknowledge the farmer, the truck drivers and the grocery store workers. If there's an animal product, you thank the animal for its energy.

You see the food first, noticing colors, textures, steam and the richest color on the plate. Then you smell it, looking for the strongest and the faintest scent, and listen for sizzle or silence. Next you take a bite to taste and feel it, and finally you notice touch: heat rising from the food, in your mouth, throat or belly.

Chew rather than just swallow. Feel the heat and texture, and count how many tastes you can find at once: salty, sweet, even heat. When you swallow, notice the taste that lingers in the space between bites, which we usually ignore. Then take a second bite from a different part of the plate.

Emily explains that when we rush or get absorbed in conversation, our senses don't register the meal. The stomach may be full, but the senses feel deprived and send you looking for more. Savoring each bite as if it were the most expensive meal you've had slows you down and lets your body feel satisfied sooner.

Her reasoning is simple: your stomach doesn't have teeth. Chewing well makes food easier to digest, and she calls it the not-so-secret secret to increasing your health. It also gives your senses more time with each bite.

Yes. Emily suggests applying the same pause to alcohol, news, social media or anything you consume that doesn't make you feel great. Getting present lets you decide what you want to put into your brain and body.